Tray

ABSTRACT

A tray arrangeable and engageable with an identical tray in partially overlapping relation with a portion of the bottom of the underlying tray exposed which includes a bottom having notch means formed on the undersurface thereof and spaced from one end thereof together with upstanding lug means formed on the top surface of the bottom at the opposite end thereof for engagement with the notch means on the bottom of a tray placed partially on the top of the tray.

United States Patent [191 Bateman [451 May 21,1974- TRAY Prima Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza B M W [75] Inventor Robert F ateman St Paul inn Assistant Examiner Kenneth Noland [73] Assignee: Plastics, Inc., St. Paul, Minn. Attorn y, A nt, or Fir -Wicks & N mer [22] Filed: Jan. 24, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 220,229

[57] ABSTRACT '5" 206/509 224/48 A tray arrangeable and engageable with an identical [58] Fieid G 48 48 7 tray in partially overlapping relation with a portion of 224/48 4585 4 6 the bottom of the underlying tray exposed which includes a bottom having notch means formed on the l 56] References Cited undersurface thereof and spaced from one end thereof together with upstanding lug means formed on the top UNITED STATES PATENTS surface of the bottom at the opposite end thereof for 1,915,369 6/1933 Lane 6! al. 220/97 R engagement the notch means on the bottom of a 3 tray placed partially on the top of the tray. FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Claim, 9 Drawing Figures 725.652 3/1955 Great Britain 220/23.6

/a /a /8 I (r f m 38 W F /25 1 1 1 t i, I If 1 I! M M r H I II 1| I ll 20 l'f i I 1 IL /0 I 12 I t J I: a /0 i t I I 1 1 t I I 1 /2 l i I A2 I I ,/2 1 I I M y I I i z/ 33 4/ I h .3 i M 30 H {I W "1 t I it r, m a M nt J g t P A As A ,/e

TRAY

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In present day travel in large aircraft, space for storage of trays used in serving meals is very critical. Conventional trays are stored edge to edge on shelves in a storage container until used. The containers may be in the form of open ended sleeves, aisle carts or similar devices having runners or shelves on which the trays are placed. With the present invention additional trays may be stored in a given container.

Also, trays larger than those presently used can be accommodated with no additional space necessary. Additionally, with the subject invention the trays are releasably engaged one with the other, and one tray may be easily pulled from a container by pulling upon an overlying tray. This further aids in removing a tray which is the innermost tray in a container. With the present tray construction a constant level and low profile is maintained along the sides of the trays whereby a tapered formation is not needed.

In the drawings forming part of this application:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of three stacked trays each embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the trays of FIG. 1.

FIG.v 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a tray.

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of a tray.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of a tray.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the comer of a tray showing particularly one of the engaging lugs on the edge of the tray.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of FIG. 4.

Referring to the drawings in detail the tray A includes the substantially flat rectangular bottom 10 and formed on one edge thereof is a first wall 12. Formed on the opposed edge of the bottom is a second wall 14 which is generally triangular in cross section. A first outwardly extending oblique side wall 16 is formed on one edge of the bottom 10 and a second oblique side wall 18 is formed on the opposite edge. The numeral 20 designates a groove formed transversely in the undersurface of the bottom 10 which is arcuate in cross section for most of its length. At'a point spaced inwardly of the side wall 16, the groove 20 is formed with a notch 21 having a flat bottom 22, right angular parallel sides 24 terminating in right angular end walls 26. A second notch 28 is identical to notch 21 and is formed at a point spaced inwardly from the sidewall 18. The identical portions bear the same reference numeral accompanied by a lower case letter a.

Further provided is a first upstanding lug 30 formed on the upper edge of the wall 14 and spaced inwardly from the wall 16. The lug 30 is formed integrally with and blended into the wall 14 with a configuration including the rectangular flat top 32, the depending right angular and vertically disposed sides 34 and the partial right angular and vertically disposed ends 36.

A second lug 38 is provided which is identical to lug 30 and is also spaced inwardly from the wall 18. The identical portions of the lug bear the same reference numerals accompanied by a lower case letter a. The length of the notches 21 and 28 is greater than the length of lugs 30 and 38 whereby the lugs are easily positioned within the notches as hereinafter described. The notches 21 and 28 are spaced from the wall 12 a distance whereby one tray upon the other overlaps the other tray the desired amount, particularly FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. The amount of overlap of one tray over the other tray is such that the lever arm is not sufficient with weight on the short arm to lift up the remaining portion of the tray. When a-tray is in thexaforementioned overlapping arrangement with the lugs in the designated notches the remaining portion of the wall 14 positions within the groove 20.

In utilizing the trays A the same are stacked and stored by placing the front portion of one tray in overlapping relation to a rear portion' of a tray beneath whereby the lugs 30 and 38 engage within the notches 21 and 28, respectively. As a result space is saved, the trays are releasably hooked together and an overlying tray may be used to push or pull a tray or trays hooked to the same.,When the lugs engage into the respective notches the trays are positively and correctly engaged.

c. said bottom having a groove extending across the undersurface thereof and at least one notch having a rectangular outline formed in the groove,

d. at leastone upstanding lug having a rectangular outline formed on the top edge surface of the first wall of said bottom atthe opposite end of the bottom for engagement with said notch on the bottom of a tray placed partially on the top of the tray with the first wall extended into the groove. 

1. A tray arrangeable and engageable with an identical tray in partially overlapping relation and with a portion of the bottom of the underlying tray exposed, comprising: a. a bottom having a relatively low first wall on one edge, and b. a relatively low second wall on the opposed edge, c. said bottom having a groove extending across the undersurface thereof and at least one notch having a rectangular outline formed in the groove, d. at least one upstanding lug having a rectangular outline formed on the top edge surface of the first wall of said bottom at the opposite end of the bottom for engagement with said notch on the bottom of a tray placed partially on the top of the tray with the first wall extended into the groove. 